Life and career

Raised between Washington, D.C. and a farm in Georgia, she sang in Moomtez and Black Rock Coalition while studying History at Fordham University. Releasing her first album in 2006, and Rolling Stone said of her, "Smith could easily be lumped in with expressive chanteuses like Norah Jones and Alicia Keys, but she has a broader palette than either." The magazine listed her as one of the 10 Artists to Watch in 2006.

Her debut album, For Lovers, Dreamers & Me, was a collection of songs spanning genres from country to rock to funk. The title was borrowed from the Muppets. "We were just trying to think of a title because I haven’t thought of a name after it was all done," she said in an interview with Hiphoprnbsoul.com. "We were thinking about the music and we were throwing ideas around. We were thinking about The Beatles and The Wizard of Oz and whatever else made us think of. Then something made me think of The Muppets. I don’t even know. It wasn't something in the forefront of my mind. I just thought of it and it came to me like that."

The song "Dream" was featured on an episode of Entourage (season four) during the closing credits. "Dream" was also featured in the final act of episode four, season five, of the Showtime series The L Word ("Let's Get This Party Started"). In 2007, she was nominated for a Grammy Award under the Best Urban/Alternative category. However, the fall-out from pressure of the success of her debut release, meant that future recordings were shelved. Becoming a mother, Smith relocated from New York to Los Angeles, California.

In 2011, she collaborated with Aloe Blacc to contribute the track "Baby" to the Red Hot Organization's most recent charitable album Red Hot + Rio 2. The album is a follow-up to the 1996 Red Hot + Rio. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues.

Her second album, She was released in March 2013.

In 2015, Smith's cover of "I Put a Spell on You" was featured on Nina Revisited... A Tribute to Nina Simone.

Personal life

Smith has one daughter with recording artist Citizen Cope.

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US R&B	US Indie	US Heatseekers
For Lovers, Dreamers & Me'	Formats: CD, digital download Released: 2006	—	—	39
She	Formats: CD, digital download Released: 2013	26	33	9
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]